Tanzania to build gas pipeline

In order to ease the supply of gas in Kenya, a natural gas pipeline between Tanzania and Kenya is being planned.

East Africa Community PS David Nalo stated that following the recently completed feasibility study, construction of the 550 km pipeline linking Dar-es-Salaam-Tanga and Mombasa will commence.

"In Kenya there is a large demand for natural gas. Also, the liquefied petroleum gas that is imported into the country is not enough to meet the demand," Nalo noted during the Kenya-Denmark energy conference that sought to explore ways to increase energy supply in the country as per the vision 2030 blueprint.

The exact timeline for completion has not been revealed, although the design of the pipeline is said to be complete. Nalo opted to only reveal that the "work is at an advanced stage."

Tanzania has discovered large deposits of natural gas, which Nalo noted would be helpful in easing the energy supply in the EA region. Kenya and the other member states are still exploring for the commodity.

Importation constraints coupled with lack of adequate storage infrastructure to ensure steady supply has meant Kenya has had challenges meeting its demand for liquefied petroleum gas.

Tanzania has so far made discoveries of natural gas in four areas namely Songo Songo Island, Mnazi Bay, Mkuranga and Kiliwani North. In September this year, three more offshore gas fields were discovered, raising the country’s gas deposits. Tanzania currently has seven offshore fields.

In addition there are 15 exploration companies already operating in Tanzania with more than 50 hydrocarbon wells at different stages of exploration and development.

There are reportedly 28 prospective sedimentary basins in the East African region, with over 37 international oil and gas companies licensed there to date. It is estimated that the petroleum and natural gas resources in East Africa are at 2 billion bbls of oil and over 10 trillion ft³ of gas respectively.

If it is to meet the goals stipulated in the Vision 2030 document, Danish Ambassador to Kenya, Geert Aagard Andersen, noted that the country needed to grow its energy production tenfold.

Kenya aims to be a mid-income country by 2030 with robust industries. This will depend largely on the availability of a steady energy supply in the country. According to the ministry of energy the total integrated installed effective capacity under hydrology is 1470 MW.

Furthermore, the Director of Renewable energy in the Ministry of Energy noted that the peak power demand will most likely reach 15 000 MW by 2030, from the current peak demand of 1300 MW.

Ten Danish companies operating in the energy sector took part in the event to share information and network with Kenyan investors and counterparts interested in this sector.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/23112011/tanzania_to_build_gas_pipeline/